Wednesday, January 30, 2013

[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of Between

Kerry Schafer was born and raised in Canada*, moved back and forth across the border several times, and finally settled on a compromise. She now lives in Washington state, but within an hour’s drive of her home and native land. Her childhood book collection traveled with her through all of those moves, and although she now owns a Kindle she continues to acquire books and bookshelves. During her lifetime, Kerry has worked as a lumber piler, an OB nurse, a secretary, and a substitute teacher, among other things. No matter where she lives or what she is doing, she finds a way to create writing time. Currently she balances writing and family with her work as a mental health counselor.
*And yes, she does sometimes say ‘eh?’ but never, ever ‘aboot.’

Between, THE BETWEEN Book #1
Author:  Kerry Schafer

Synopsis:
 Vivian’s life is finally on track. She has a job she loves as an ER doctor and has just met – literally – the man of her dreams. But when her eccentric grandfather is murdered and designates her as his next of kin, she discovers that she is the last of a race of beings known as dreamshifters. It is her task to guard the doorways between waking and dreaming, which have already begun to unravel, spilling dangerous creatures from dream into the waking world. When she sets out to close the open doors and protect her town and the people she loves, Vivian confronts dragons, intrigue, and the dark secrets of her own family history. In the end, she comes face to face with a sorceress seeking eternal life and ultimate power. Vivian must find a way to stop her, or reality will be forever altered.

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:
*ARC received from the Pub in exchange for an honest review

THE BETWEEN is a brand new Urban Fantasy series unlike anything I've read before, & one I will be returning to as soon as I can...

Between is the debut novel of this new series about dream shifter, Vivian, who was kept in the dark about her origins and her past and who has trouble reconciling things because she's a doctor and puts her stock in science and what she can see, not myth and magic. The problem is that she DOES see these things, and after awhile, she can't deny that something is going on and she needs to get to the bottom of it.

The other world that Vivian is a part of and unwittingly thrown back into is a magical, mystical place full of dragons, knights, and yes, even an evil queen, and things don't always go as planned or end up 'happily ever after'. That was one thing that I really loved about the book - it was surprising, and wonderfully unique, and while a lot of debut books can be a bit overwhelming with setting up the characters, the world, the backstory, etc, Between seemed just right to me. :)

The ending was great! It left me wanting the next installment, but didn't make me want to scream and throw things because I needed more immediately to feel like I got closure. There is a lot to be done to make things right, a lot of riddles still to be solved, additional character development to be had, etc, so I can't wait to see what book #2 has in store when I finally get my hands on it. Bottom line is that Kerry has a winner here and I couldn't put it down.

Random side note: If you follow my site or me on Facebook, you know that I'm a HUGE Edgar Allan Poe fan (I even named my black cat Poe Rayvn). There is a penguin in this book that Vivian names Poe and he is the cutest thing ever! :)

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Between 4 Skulls and definitely recommends it to Urban Fantasy readers looking for something new and fun.  

Between



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